Elizabeth school history explains current state

Elizabeth schools history
As a principal and resident of Elizabeth, I must respond to your editorial perspective regarding Elizabeth Public Schools (“The rot in Elizabeth,” May 28). The “rot” you claim has, in truth, led to the highest performing urban district in New Jersey under Superintendent Pablo Munoz’s dynamic and visionary leadership. It was in the mid-1990s, when the Ray Lesniak political machine briefly controlled the Elizabeth board of education, that the schools were overrun by patronage, failing schools, low expectations and poor morale, which led to a grass-roots movement culminating in the election of Rafael Fajardo as school board president in 1996. It was then that positive change began in the schools and has continued through the present day under the cerebral watch of Munoz.

If the board did not have finances to get its message out, it would be akin to playing baseball gloveless — in this case against the vast resources of the Lesniak juggernaut.
The charge that employees are pressured to contribute to campaigns is not supported by the facts. Employees and residents of Elizabeth alike have shown a support of the current board of education as demonstrated by election results year after year. Aaron Goldblatt, principal, Madison Monroe School #16, Elizabeth

NJEA, stop whining
So the governor is proposing an experiment that could save failing schools (“Christie: ‘Experiment’ could save failing schools,” June 10), and who is the first to say that it will never work? The NJEA, the state’s largest group of naysayers.

The NJEA doesn’t provide any solutions itself, but whines when others do. Through the ages, there always were negative groups like the NJEA. If anyone paid attention to them, we wouldn’t have the telephone, air travel or men landing on the moon. We all would be better off if we ignored them and at least gave some new ideas a chance.J. Fischer, West Caldwell

Change rules, not bosses
For the past few years, we have been subjected to one proposal after another intended to correct the failing schools of New Jersey. All these proposals seem to have at their core the ability to destroy the current infrastructure in general and NJEA specifically.

The newest proposal would have private companies manage schools. Given the history of private companies operating in the public education arena, this is perhaps the most ludicrous proposal to date. At a time when reduced funding for schools is a harsh reality, we are being asked to give some of the remaining money to private managers.

In addition, we are close to being forced to accept charter schools because they can operate outside of the current rules, regulations and contracts. If the current rules, regulations and contracts are preventing forward progress in our schools, then change the rules.

There is no doubt that the parameters of school governance must change. We need to improve our ability to remove poor teachers and administrators. We need to take the politics out of schools and education. We need to reduce teacher contracts to documents that are restricted to wages and benefits. We need to consider reducing the number of school districts to one for each county to reduce the costs of duplicated services and governance. The last thing we need are private managers operating public schools.Peter Fland, Glen Gardner

MVC waits
I had a long, long wait at the Totowa MVC to renew my driver’s license. After waiting about an hour, I had to show all my indentification information to an employee and then had to take a number. If the waits get any longer, they can add death certificates to acceptable forms of identification.Larry Monaco, Caldwell

Clean energy is good for N.J.
Like many others, I am appalled at the state’s recent announcements to abandon clean-energy initiatives and goals for a cleaner, greener economy.

Not only has the state raided clean-energy funds and pulled out of RGGI, it has also announced a draft energy plan that will slash renewable energy goals 25 percent, fail to meet the 20 percent efficiency standard, expand lines to import dirty coal and run gas pipelines that trash our forests, parks and neighborhoods while enabling hydrofracking that threatens our water.

If Gov. Chris Christie is interested in securing a stronger economy, then protecting the environment must be a top priority. A strong New Jersey economy depends on clean water, air, energy and the creation of green jobs.

It’s time to tell state legislators and Christie that New Jersey needs to move toward healthy communities and a clean energy future, not backward.Jenny Vickers, Neptune

Get past the rhetoric
While driving through New Jersey last week, I noticed the roads were lined with billboards alleging that Gov. Chris Christie and millionaires are somehow in cahoots.
The campaign is funded by a political action committee for teachers called the New
Jersey Education Association. As emblematic of the quality of these teachers, they argue that because Christie vetoed a tax hike, that equals a tax cut. Heaven forbid if any of these people are teaching math — one times zero might equal one.

In 2009, when Gov. Jon Corzine was threatening to trim education funding, where was the NJEA? No “billionaires for Corzine” billboards or ad campaigns? Of course not, because these ads are partisan political attacks and have nothing to do with the education of our students.